New York City vs. Atlanta United

It’s matchday 24 and New York City FC are in Hotlanta to take on Atlanta United in the air-conditioned comfort of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Both teams are playing with little rest. New York City earned a practical 0-0 draw against the Chicago Fire on a scorching night at Soldier Field, while Atlanta failed to score in a 1-0 away loss to CF Montreal.

United’s performance is what you’d expect from a team in the midst of a rebuild. Earlier this season, Atlanta fired former coach Gonzalo Pineda. The club then sold its two best players: forward Giorgos Giakoumakis is now playing for Cruz Azul in Liga MX, and playmaker Thiago Almada is biding his time with Brazilian club Botafago before finalizing a planned move to Europe for a reported $30 million. Atlanta is vulnerable.

But New York City’s away record (3W-2D-6L) isn’t exactly impressive. NYCFC have scored just eight goals in those 11 games and have been held to a draw six times.

New York City vs Atlanta head to head

The head-to-head record between these two clubs is in favor of the home team: New York City’s record against Atlanta at the Benz is 1W-3D-3L. NYCFC came close to securing a second win last year, when they led 1-2 thanks to a brace from Gabriel Pereira. But a decimated Atlanta, without Almada (and bringing in players from Atlanta United 2 to round out their roster), scored the equalizer in the 95th minute.

But New York City has never been held scoreless on the Benz turf: NYCFC has scored 10 goals in the eight games it has played in Atlanta.

NYCFC II to play at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island

New York City FC has reportedly donated $3 million to upgrade Icahn Stadium. The Baby Blues will move to their new home in August.

New York City FC

• Player availability: Defender Tayvon Gray (leg), forward Malachi Jones (leg), midfielder Andres Perea (leg) and defender Kevin O’Toole (leg) are unavailable. Midfielder James Sands is suspended for one match due to yellow card accumulation.
• Will we see Justin Haak in midfield in the absence of Perea and Sands? The 22-year-old has yet to make his debut this year.
• The safest bets are to see Christian McFarlane back in the starting XI. The 17-year-old put in a good performance in his first Major League Soccer start last week, and the right-back is the team’s best option in that position with O’Toole and Gray out injured.
• Will we see Talles Magno play? That’s the question we ask ourselves every week. Late in last Saturday’s game, head coach Nick Cushing chose to sub out defender Birk Risa to preserve a 0-0 draw rather than bring in the designated player to try to get the win.
• Midfielder Santiago Rodriguez is one yellow card away from a suspension. Thanks, Santi.

What NYCFC Needs for the Summer Transfer Window

Here are some of the roster elements that New York City FC could address via player recruitment during the MLS secondary transfer window.

Atlanta United

• Player availability: Forward Edwin Mosquera (knee) is unavailable. Center back Stian Gregersen is suspended after receiving a red card in last week’s 1-0 loss to Montreal. Left back Caleb Wiley is on international duty with the U.S. men’s national team at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
• Atlanta may have lost two of their top scorers in Almada and Giakoumakis, but striker Saba Lobjanidze has five goals in 20 appearances and is back with United after playing for the Georgia national team at Euro 2024. Lobjanidze made one appearance in the tournament when he came on as a late substitute in the 1-1 group stage draw with Czechia – and failed to score the winner when his shot went over the bar on the final kick of the game.
• Want to know more about United? Read ‘Oppo Research: 5 Things about Atlanta United’, in which Five Stripe Final’s Rob Usry explains why Brad Guzan could be tonight’s X-factor.

Oppo Research: 5 things to know about Atlanta United

Five Stripe Final’s Rob Usry talks about Atlanta United’s struggles without Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis, and why Brad Guzan is the X-factor.